Votive tablets began as sacred mementos of visits to holy places, but
over time went through a process of change, acquiring, in the minds of
believers, the ability to protect. In the streets around Wat Mahathat in
Bangkok, close to the Grand Palace, pavement stalls sell amulets, which
are essentially votive Buddhist tablets to which are ascribed specific
powers. More that this, some half a dozen Thai collectors magazines,
and even a dealers web site, specialize in amulets. Amulet collection
in Thailand is now a significant besides, with the rarest items changing
hands for more than a million baht spice.